“Milk. If I’m eating any of that cake, I’m drinking a cold glass of milk,” she replies. At my look, she laughs. “We’re sharing, Damien. That way I get the best of both worlds!”
Since I don’t mind sharing anything with her, I nod in agreement
“I’ll be right back with everything,” Thelma promises.
I enjoy the rest of our impromptu meal then chuckle when Miriam says, “We’ll let you two get back to carousing around town. I’m sure by now those who heard our conversation with Betty have spread it around so you shouldn’t have any more issues with the busybodies adding their two cents.”
I pull out my wallet to cover our lunch bill and tip when Dale reaches over and touches my shoulder. “No, son, I’ve got this one. You can get it next time.” I nod because when a man is as determined as he is to cover our meal, you bow out, but I’ll be catching the next one, I just have to be sneaky about getting to it before he does because I have a feeling he’ll have an excuse of why he should be paying.
“Thank you,” I say, sliding my wallet back into my pocket.
“No, thank you. Since you’ve been here, Emerie’s more like her old self,” he murmurs, although with the way the two women are talking, it’s unlikely they hear him.
That’s a compliment I’d like to deposit into my memory bank. A man like Dale doesn’t dish them out randomly, so I know that he means everything he’s saying. It makes my soul sing that he’s accepting the fact that Emerie means something to me. “I really like her, sir,” I reply. “I have to go out to Arizona to see my family, of course, but I plan to come back so we can see where things will go between us.”
“What will you do for work?” he asks since we’re now waiting for Thelma to return with the receipt.
“Well, what I did in the military isn’t really compatible to anything in the civilian sector,” I admit. “But I’m hoping some of the skills I have can translate into a viable job.”
“I’ll put some feelers out if you like,” he offers. Thelma reaches his side with the receipt and pen, and I watch him glance over the bill then growl out, “Thelma, stop shortchanging yourself, woman!”
“You got the friends and family discount,” she retorts. “Just sign the damn thing, Dale, I’m not re-running the card.”
“Fine,” Dale grumbles. Then he pulls out his wallet and grabs a wad of cash, sliding it into her apron pocket. When she tries to give it back, he glares at her, so she backs off.
Miriam turns and looks at Dale and asks, “She did it again, didn’t she?”
“Yep, same as always. I just gave her the bill amount in cash for her tip.”
“So, we have to be sneaky when it comes to Thelma,” I murmur. “Good to know.”
ChapterTwelve
Emerie
“I’ve really enjoyed today,”Damien says as we pull into my driveway.
Since I start my work week again tomorrow, I’m grabbing some things for me and Vinnie, then we’re heading out to the farm. “Me too,” I reply. “It won’t take me long to pack up my work stuff, as well as some fresh clothes for Vinnie, so you’re welcome to stay in the air conditioning, or you can come on in.”
“I’ll keep the car running,” he teases.
“Then I’ll grab you something cold to drink, how’s that?” I ask.
Nodding his head, he grins, stating, “Works for me.”
In no time at all, I have my stuff packed, as well as some fresh clothes for Vinnie. On my way out, I see my mail so stuff it into my tote to look at it out at the farm. My laptop bag is also coming with me, so if there are any bills, I can get those squared away as well. Grabbing our cold drinks, I manage to get everything through the front door and set it down so I can close and lock up my house.
“Here, let me get those,” Damien offers, having left the comfort of my vehicle to help. “If I’d known you had so much to tow, I wouldn’t have stayed in the car,” he chides, giving me a side-eyed look.
“It didn’t seem like it was a lot while I was packing it, but I’ve got a forty-eight-hour shift at the Maggie Valley Fire Department ahead of me as part of my last few clinical hours. Gotta have fresh uniforms ‘just in case’ because you never know what’s going to happen when you’re on shift, plus all the equipment and stuff that goes along with that. I also carry my own stethoscope and a few other medical necessities.”
“Makes sense to me,” he replies as we get everything loaded into my car. “Go ahead and drop me off so you don’t have to make another trip out. I know you’re not going to see Levinia for a few days because of work, so I want you to have as much time with her as possible.”
His kindness has me falling for him, Levi,my brain whispers.Most people are selfish and wouldn’t think like that. Especially when it’s a fresh relationship, or at least a blooming one.
“Are you sure? I really don’t mind.”
“Positive, Em. I’ll take the rental car out there since Miriam’s fixing dinner for all of us, how’s that?”
